scary tentacles. help please

[lepecube00]

I am concerned about some tentacles that are attached to my toadstool. They are very thin and have branches. At first I thought they were sweeper tentacles because I am new to SW and had no clue about them. After a ton of reading threads from various websites I believe they could be ctenophores(comb jellies). I do not know whether they are harmful or not but my fish will not get very close. The tentacles have also gotten stuck to my feather duster which I am sure is not good. The tentacles come out and move around frantically and quickly retract. Very rarely are they not out. I am pretty sure they are reproducing or something though because there were only 2 when I first noticed them but now I know there are at least 5 although they are hard to count. I do not know whether to get rid of the toadstool or try to get them off. I do not know if it is affecting the coral either. It seems the coloration is a bit darker than before but it still opens up just as much I believe. If anyone has any idea what this thing could be or what to do with it. I would appreciate it greatly. I will post some pictures when I get home.

 

[dakota9]

Pictures would definitely help......

It's probably nothing to be concerned about.

 

[KrisDeitz]

I know Mitch and ive seen the pictures. Ive never dealt with the sweepers but i told him ask yall.


the Sweepers or what ever they may be are long and stringy like.

 

[KrisDeitz]

pics
<fieldset class="gc-fieldset">
<legend> Attached files </legend>

>

class="gc-images" title="iphoine 627.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a>

>

class="gc-images" title="iphoine 628.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a>

>

class="gc-images" title="iphoine 629.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a> </fieldset>

 

[lepecube00]

Thanks for posting the pictures I appreciate it! Hopefully someone knows about these little buggers

 

[dakota9]

I'm a bit stumped......

Honestly, I thought the pics would revel it was common anemone poop or something...

Some worms cast long strings in the water to catch passing debris, but no worm I've ever seen casts such a complex string structure as that.

Curious here...... Can you grab the strings with a pair of tongs? Are they made of soft tissue, or more like a secretion string?

 

[lepecube00]

I have not tried to grab them. But I would assume that to be impossible. They are as thin or more thin than a piece of string and frantically move all around as well as contracting back into the toadstool very quickly. Ive never touched them but honestly I am scared too they look extremely viscous. Again the only similar thing I have seen online is ctenophore but I have no clue how to confirm that's what it is or what to do with it if it is...

 

[db366]

Don't leathers shed or lose some sort of coat?

 

[lepecube00]

I have heard that. But i dont think thats what this is.. maybe though. I have no clue :/

 

[dakota9]

db366;700491 wrote: Don't leathers shed or lose some sort of coat?

Leathers do shed, but doesn't look like that!

Leathers tend to go through a dormant phase, shrink up a little bit and develop a glossy appearance. When they shed, it's usually in tiny little pieces or in the case of toadstools, the glossy top comes off in one piece like a small round piece or saran wrap.

What's being described here is something that can be extended, and then retracted.... From the description, it also sounds like these strings move independently from the water current, not with the water current. (Lepe... Please elaborate on the preceding statement as to it's accuracy, just for clarification)

Personally, I don't see how you haven't tugged on one of those strings to see what comes out of coral/rock. Curiosity would have gotten the better of me by now.

Intrigued!

Tagging along!

 

[lepecube00]

Well they do get moved by the current. They may not move independently back and forth. It is hard to tell. But they are definitly capable of retracting becuase i have seen times where they arent out.. for example right now there are only 3 out and moving around but i know for a fact that there were more than that early today. They seem asss they might be catching particles floating around and pulling them in but i am not sure. They are extended whether the lights are on or off. So i dont know if it is some organism that is filter feeding or or just something with tentacles

 

[dakota9]

It would really help to know if this string was formed of tissue, or secreted. Can you take a fishnet (chopstick, tank scraper) and touch them? (I realize I "in essence" just told you to "poke it with a stick", lol)

 

[lepecube00]

I can try what am i feeling for?

 

[lepecube00]

105 views and only 12 replies... Does no one know about this thing?

 

[peaches7412]

put on some rubber gloves and start grabbing at those things, that is what I would do.

 

[lepecube00]

What if they are good? I dont want to kill. I just saw where it was coming from or at least one of them.. its a very very small organism stuck on the toadstool. The tentacle is coming out from a small lump on this thing. It is very close to the color of the toadstool. I think i may be able to get one of them if you think thats what i should do.. i just dont know if these things are going to sting me or something

 

[lepecube00]

I tried to grab them.. they all retracted back out of my hand except one which ended up trying to retract but i had to good of a grip and ended up ripping.

 

[jennm]

Could be from a vermatid snail (harmless). A better photo might help.

Jenn

 

[peaches7412]

Try to get a pic at the source of the tentacles if possible.

 

[slowjazz]

JennM;700665 wrote: Could be from a vermatid snail (harmless). A better photo might help.

Jenn

+1 I'm thinking the same thing. Can you look where the string goes to? (when it retracts) does it look like it is going into a tube or the LR?
How is your feeding..btw? Usually overfeeding brings alot of vermatids. If you google vermatid snail pictures, you should see some pics that look like what you posted.